Harwich Town Council

01255 507211

9.30am – 1pm Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Full Council Minutes 6th June 2012

MINUTES of the Meeting of HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL held at The 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Harwich on Wednesday 6th June 2012 commencing at 7pm

HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich, Essex CO12 3DS
Tel: 01255 507211

Present: Councillors Calver, Day, Double, Flavell, Fowler, Gibbins

I Henderson, J Henderson, King, McLeod, Thompson and Todd

In the Chair: Councillor J Thurlow

Clerk: Mrs Lucy Ballard

Also present: 6 members of the public and 1 member of the press

Prayers were said by Reverend P Mann.

011/12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Brown, C Callender and R Callender.

012/12 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None.

013/12 PUBLIC QUESTIONS
Dr Rogers referred to the question he raised at the last Council meeting and requested an update. The Clerk confirmed the issue was in progress. Dr Rogers asked if this could be further chased up. He also mentioned some anomalies with the agendas and minutes attachments on the HTC website. The Clerk agreed to look into these.

Betty Holbrook again raised concern about the lack of intervention in relation to the poor condition of the highways in Harwich and referred also to the pavement in Albemarle Street. She asked for pressure to be put on for something to be done. Cllr McLeod said he would raise this under item 14 and suggested it’s taken up by E&H committee. Cllr I Henderson suggested we simply contact ECC directly.

Mr Lyon, Harwich resident, raised concern about the condition of 20 Market Street and asked what authority HTC had to insist that landlords act responsibly. Cllr Thurlow confirmed that enforcement lies with the district council. Further comments were raised about the ability or willingness of TDC to follow through with enforcement.

014/12 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave an account of some of the engagements attended since taking office, including welcoming Marina Mightier at the Ha’Penny pier as part of Sparks will Fly, the Tour de Tendring events, the 1st/2nd Parkeston Scouts AGM and the Luny Club’s Annual dinner and dance. He also mentioned the various school visits to distribute the commemorative Jubilee coins and the unveiling of the Jubilee Oak tree/plaque. He publicly thanked Cllr Calver for sourcing the Union flag which was used and asked for thanks to be passed to the owner for its use.

Cllr McLeod, as Deputy Mayor, gave an account of the engagements attended on behalf of the Mayor including the opening of the Spring Meadow school fete and the Wivenhoe charity ball.

015/12 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 9th May 2012 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and signed as a true record.

016/12 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 17th April 2012 (previously circulated) be received.

017/12 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MAYORMAKING MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Annual Mayormaking meeting held on 17th May 2012 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and signed as a true record.

018/12 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Cllr Flavell referred to min 181/11 and discussion took place regarding the response received from NEPP in relation to Parking along The Quay. He proposed another letter be written to NEPP to request an amnesty on parking charges between the hours of 3pm and 8am whilst the necessary amendments to the Traffic Regulation Orders are being pursued. Cllr Calver thanked Cllr Flavell for his efforts and suggested the MP is asked to take this up on HTC’s behalf.
RESOLVED: to write to NEPP. FURTHER RESOLVED: to forward all correspondence to the MP and ask for him to take this up with NEPP on HTC’s behalf.

019/12 FLOOD SIREN
Cllr I Henderson gave an account of a meeting between HTC, ECC, the Environment Agency and MP on 18 May 2012 and suggested a working party be set up to investigate the cost of purchasing and maintaining a new siren.
RESOLVED: that Cllrs Day, Flavell, I Henderson, McLeod and Todd form the Flood Siren Working Party and findings are reported to future meetings of the Council.

020/12 MARKET STREET FIRE
Cllr Flavell thanked residents for persevering with the issue of the condition of the fire-damaged site and said that he’d previously pushed for an s215 notice to be issued to the owners. He referred to the planning enforcement regulations and proposed a letter is written to the planning authority requesting urgent action is taken to contact owners, and pursue s215 action be taken in line with TDC’s own regulations.
RESOLVED: To write to TDC’s Chief Executive.

021/12 SUBSCRIPTIONS
Annual subscriptions for payment were perused.
RESOLVED: to renew subscriptions as and when they arise throughout the year, as listed in Appendix A

022/12 MINUTES OF THE LAST FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 16 May 2012 (previously circulated) be received.
FURTHER RESOLVED: that the confidential minutes of the meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 16 May 2012 (previously circulated) be received.

023/12 MINUTES OF THE LAST ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Allotments Committee held on 21 May 2012 (previously circulated) be received.
FURTHER RESOLVED: that the confidential minutes of the meeting of the Allotments Committee held on 21 May 2012 (previously circulated) be received.

024/12 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets and earmarked funds were noted.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed Appendix B
FURTHER RESOLVED: To approve the accounts for year ending March 2012 and the Annual Return was signed by the Chairman and The Clerk.
FURTHER RESOLVED: to receive the internal audit report and agreed that there is a sound system of internal control in place.

025/12 BRIEF REPORTS FROM MEMBERS
Cllr Flavell confirmed attendance at a meeting of the Conservation Panel.

Cllr I Henderson confirmed attendance at a meeting of the Harwich Festival committee and that it was set to be a success.

Cllr Thurlow confirmed no meeting held of the Pensioners’ Association.

Cllr J Henderson confirmed attendance at a Teen Talk meeting during which discussions took place about the forthcoming Hoody Festival.

Cllrs Calver, I Henderson, J Henderson and McLeod commented extensively on issues discussed at a recent Health Forum chaired by the MP, at which they all attended.

Cllr McLeod commented on the hard work of the Town Team in submitting the Portas Pilot application, which was unsuccessful, but confirmed they are pursuing a second attempt. The Clerk agreed to send a letter of thanks for their efforts with this and also for the Jubilee celebrations.

026/12 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED IN POST OR RAISED BY MEMBERS
A letter of thanks from Mr and Mrs Broadley was noted by members and read aloud by the Clerk for the benefit of the public.

Cllr McLeod raised the issue of pot holes and deteriorating highways, which appear to remain unaddressed by the county council. Cllr Day proposed a letter is written to ECC to ask why these issues aren’t being attended to. RESOLVED: to write letter to ECC Highways. Cllr McLeod also thanked Cllr Todd for his efforts with the success in commissioning the writing on the sea wall, which had been completed.

Cllr Flavell referred to a previous amendment to the Standing Orders to accommodate those members of the public wishing to raise questions but noted the poor attendance at this year’s Annual Parish meeting, which was convened for this very purpose. He also mentioned yesterday’s fire in West Street and the actions of both the fire brigade and TDC’s Homelessness Office in attending the scene.

The Clerk informed members of a letter received in the post today from Drakes Consulting in relation to a proposal to install a base station at the local football club grounds and suggested circulating the proposal to gauge responses to feedback at next Full Council and contact the firm in the meantime to confirm comments will be forthcoming.

027/12 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday 18th

July 2012 at The 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Harwich, at 7.00pm, or at the rise of

the Town Planning Committee, whichever is the later.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.34pm.